Display method in network apparatus

ABSTRACT

A network apparatus is capable of calculating positions on a display screen where connecting states of network apparatuses connected to a network are displayed on the basis of connecting information of the network apparatuses on the network and peripherals connected thereto and displaying the positions. In addition, a controller is provided for controlling in such a manner that when it is necessary to change the display positions by a display change instruction, the display positions are again calculated and displayed on a display screen, and when a reduced display is designated, the peripherals connected to the network apparatus on the network are not displayed, and when an expanded display is designated, the peripherals connected to the network apparatus on the network are displayed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a network apparatus and, more particularly, toa technique for displaying a connecting state of network apparatuseswhich are connected onto a network.

2. Related Background Art

In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as PCs)and their peripherals have been spread and a network such as a localarea network (hereinafter, referred to as an LAN) or the like has alsobeen spread. There are a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, and thelike as peripherals mentioned above.

Needs for sharing a printer, a modem, or a scanner on the network havealso been increased. By sharing the peripherals such as printer,scanner, and the like on the network, an environment such that everyapparatus on the network can be used is obtained.

There is, however, not a technique such that all of PCs and theirperipherals which can be used are efficiently displayed on the samescreen, which apparatus is connected to the network can be displayed, oran installing state or a processing state of each driver can bedisplayed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a display technique ofnetwork apparatuses, in which a connecting state of the networkapparatus which is connected to a network can be efficiently displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is made in consideration of the above problems.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided aninformation processing apparatus which can communicate through a networkwith each of a plurality of information processing apparatuses connectedto the network, wherein the apparatus has a function for displaying avirtual system display screen for graphically displaying connectingstates of the plurality of information processing apparatuses andperipherals locally connected to each information processing apparatus.

In response to a user action for an icon of the information processingapparatus on the virtual system display screen, an icon showing theperipheral locally connected to the information processing apparatuscorresponding to the icon as a target of the action is displayed, andthe display positions of the icons which have already been displayed onthe virtual system display screen are calculated on the basis of displayspaces of peripheral icons which are newly displayed on the virtualsystem display screen.

According to the invention constructed as mentioned above, bycalculating the positions where the network apparatuses connected to thenetwork and/or the peripherals connected to the network apparatuses aredisplayed on the display screen, the network apparatuses and/or theperipherals can be efficiently displayed.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and the appendedclaims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network construction according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific construction of networkapparatuses and peripherals in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, composed of FIGS. 3A and 3B, is a flowchart showing processes ofthe network apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are diagrams showing device map display screensof the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a reduced display process according to theembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processes of a network apparatusaccording to the second embodiment;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are diagrams showing device map display screens ofthe second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing processes of a network apparatusaccording to the third embodiment; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrams showing examples of a structure of a datatable which is stored in the network apparatus according to the thirdembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described hereinbelow withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network construction according to anembodiment of the invention.

A communication network 21 is a communication network such as Ethernetor the like. A plurality of network apparatuses 22 are connected to thecommunication network 21. The network apparatuses 22 are, for example,PCs.

A peripheral 23 can be connected to each network apparatus 22. Theperipheral 23 is, for example, a printer, an image scanner, and/or adigital camera, or the like. It is not always necessary that theperipheral 23 is connected to the network apparatus 22 but a pluralityof peripherals 23 can be also connected to one network apparatus 22.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific construction of the networkapparatuses 22 and peripherals 23 according to the embodiment.

A printer 18 and a scanner 1B correspond to the peripherals 23 (FIG. 1).The other constructing blocks correspond to the network apparatuses 22(FIG. 1). The network apparatuses 22 are, for example, PCs.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a system bus. Each constructing block, whichwill be explained hereinbelow is connected to the system bus 1.Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

Reference numeral 3 denotes a program memory (referred to as a PMEM).Operating programs for various processes are properly selected/read outfrom a hard disk 10 and stored in the PMEM 3. The CPU 2 executes theoperating programs stored in the PMEM 3.

Data inputted from a keyboard 12 is stored as code information into thePMEM 3 also serving as a text memory. Reference numeral 4 denotes acommunication controller for controlling input/output data at acommunication port 5.

A signal outputted from the communication port 5 is transmitted to acommunication port of another network apparatus 7 on the network via acommunication line 6 (communication network 21 in FIG. 1). The networkapparatus 22 (FIG. 1) can input/output (transmit/receive) a signalto/from a printer or a scanner shared on the network by thecommunication controller 4.

Although the embodiment will be described with respect to a network suchas an LAN or the like, the embodiment can be also applied to a casewhere the communication port 5 and communication line 6 which areconnected to the communication controller 4 are general public lines.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a storage controller and 9 and 10 indicatedisks for data files. For example, reference numeral 9 denotes a floppydisk and 10 indicates a hard disk.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an input controller. Input apparatuses suchas keyboard 12, mouse 13, and the like are connected to the inputcontroller 11. The operator issues an operation instruction or the likeof the network apparatus by operating the keyboard 11.

The mouse 13 can be also allowed to function as a pointing device forinstructing a modification of image information on a CRT (displayapparatus) 16. Another pointing device can be also used in place of themouse 13.

The mouse 13 can arbitrarily move a cursor on the CRT 16 in the Xdirection and Y direction, select a command icon on a command menu, andinstruct a process. The mouse 13 can also instruct an edition target, adrawing position, and the like.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a video image memory (hereinafter, referredto as a VRAM); 15 a display controller; and 16 the CRT. Characters or animage which is displayed on the CRT 16 has been developed as bit mapdata in the VRAM 14.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a printer controller. The printercontroller 17 performs an output control of data for the printer 18connected to the self apparatus.

Reference numeral 1A denotes a scanner controller. The scannercontroller 1A controls the scanner 1B connected to the self apparatus.

An image reading server apparatus and an image reading client apparatusare connected to the network. In the case where the network apparatus 22(FIG. 1) functions as an image reading server apparatus, the scannercontroller 1A and scanner 1B are necessary.

In the case where the network apparatus 22 (FIG. 1) functions as animage reading client apparatus, the network apparatus 22 (FIG. 1) canuse the shared scanner controller 1A and scanner 1B provided for theimage reading server apparatus through the self communication controller4 and communication port 5 as mentioned above.

In the construction of FIG. 2, the scanner controller 1A and scanner 1Bcan be constructed as physically separate components or even if thescanner 1B is one component including the scanner controller 1A, asimilar function is provided.

An external apparatus controller 19 controls the printer controller 17and scanner controller 1A.

The operating programs stored in the program memory 3 can be also storedin the storage medium such as hard disk 10, floppy disk 9, or the likeconnected directly to the network apparatus 22 (FIG. 1).

The operating programs can be also stored in another network apparatusconnected to the network. The operating programs of the embodiment canbe supplied to the network apparatus through the storage medium such asfloppy disk 9, hard disk 10, or the like or a network.

<First Embodiment>

The first embodiment will now be described hereinbelow.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing processes of the networkapparatus according to the embodiment. The network apparatus (forexample, personal computer) 22 to which the peripheral 23 has beenconnected will be described. First, it is assumed that the PC 22 is in adisplay state where the peripheral 23 is not displayed in expanded formon the CRT. The case where an expanded display is instructed in thisdisplay state will now be described.

First, connection information of all of the shared PCs and peripheralson the network and status information such as processing states or thelike of the apparatuses are obtained in step S201. Those information isstored in the PMEM 3 (FIG. 2).

Display positions where the PCs and peripherals are displayed on the CRT16 (FIG. 2) are calculated on the basis of the obtained information instep S202.

All of the PCs and peripherals are displayed at predetermined positionson the same picture plane on the CRT 16 on the basis of the connectioninformation and status information in step S203.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen display. Reference numeral 401denotes a menu, 402 a tool bar, and 403 a main window for displayingicons indicative of the PCs and peripherals.

Icons 402 a to 402 g for allowing various functions to be executed aredisplayed in the tool bar 402. Each function of the icons 402 a to 402 gcan be executed by operating the PC or peripheral.

For example, the icon 402 a is an icon to execute the copying functionfor reading out the image data from the selected image scanner (imagereading apparatus) and outputting the image data to the selectedprinter.

The icon 402 b is an icon to execute the facsimile (FAX) function. Theicon 402 c is an icon to execute the reading function of the image data.The icon 402 d is an icon to execute the function for reading the imagedata and performing an OCR process. The icon 402 e is an icon to executethe function for managing FAX reception data and distribution data. Theicon 402 f is an icon to execute an updating process of information. Theicon 402 g is an icon to stop the updating process.

The above status information will now be described. Icons 403 a to 403ae are icons showing the PCs and peripherals shared on the network. Theicons 403 a to 403 ae are displayed as icons (display forms) of devicekinds in accordance with device kinds such as PC, printer, imagescanner, FAX modem, and the like. The icons 403 a to 403 ae are changedin dependence on a processing state such as “during the processing”,“error generation”, or the like and displayed.

The icon 403 a is an icon showing the self apparatus. The icon 403 b isan icon showing a domain in which the self PC is in a logon state. Sincethe self PC is a special apparatus, it is displayed so as to bedistinguished from the other PCs.

The icon 403 ad denotes the peripheral in which no driver is installedalthough it is shared on the network. The icon 403 ad is displayed ingray. Since the peripheral in which the driver has been installed isdisplayed by an icon in a clear color, the presence or absence of theinstalled driver can be easily known. The above information is thestatus information.

Although the icons 403 d, 403 e, and the like denote the peripheralsconnected to the self PC, a “+” (plus) mark is displayed on the icons403 d, 403 e, and the like in order to show the fact that theperipherals are not displayed in expanded form on the screen.

As for the icon 403 ab, a “−” (minus) mark is displayed on the icon 403ab in order to show the fact that the peripheral connected to the selfPC (apparatus) has been expanded on the screen.

As for the icons 403 c, 403 g, and the like, no mark is displayed on theicons 403 c, 403 g, and the like in order to show the fact that noperipheral is connected to the self PC (apparatus).

As mentioned above, the connecting states and statuses of all of the PCsand peripherals on the network can be confirmed on the screen. In thisexample, although all icons are not displayed due to a restriction of asize of screen, all of the PCs and peripherals can be confirmed by usingthe scroll bar arranged on the side of the screen.

Subsequently, whether a display change has been instructed or not isdiscriminated in step S204 in FIG. 3A. If there is no instruction forthe display change, the processing routine is finished. If there is thechange instruction, step S205 follows.

As an operating method of the change instruction, for example, there isa method of instructing the change by clicking the “+” mark displayed onthe icon 403 f showing the PC by the mouse. By performing such a changeinstruction, the icons of the peripherals connected to the icon 403 findicative of the PC are displayed. For example, as shown by the icon403 ab, the connected peripheral is displayed in expanded form.

In step S205, whether it is necessary to change (move) the displayposition of the icon of the designated PC or not is discriminated on thebasis of the information of the peripherals connected to the PC to whichthe display change has been designated and the current display position.

If there is no need to change the display positions, step S209 follows.In step S209, the display positions of the peripherals connected to theself apparatus are calculated, obtained, and displayed. Step S212follows.

In step S212, whether it is necessary to move the display positions ofthe other PCs and the peripherals connected thereto or not isdiscriminated. If it is necessary to move, step S213 follows and thedisplay positions after the movement are again calculated, obtained, anddisplayed.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen display. For example, when the “+”mark displayed on the icon 403 f showing the PC in FIG. 4 is clickedwith the mouse, the icon 403 f is displayed in expanded form. When theicon 403 f of the PC is displayed in expanded form, the display positionof an icon 503 f of the PC in FIG. 5 corresponding to the icon 403 f isnot changed.

The reasons will now be described. In the row of the icon 503 f, theicons of the PCs are sequentially arranged and displayed from the leftdirection for a network line. The peripherals connected to the icon 503f of the PC are two icons 503 g and 503 h of printers. Therefore, thisis because it is possible to display the icons in a manner such that theicons 503 g and 503 h of the printers are connected to the icon 503 f ofthe PC without changing the display position of the icon 503 f of thePC.

If the display positions have to be changed (moved) in step S205 in FIG.3A, step S206 follows.

In step S206, whether the display row of the designated PC (apparatus)has to be changed or not is discriminated. If the display row of thedesignated PC (apparatus) is not changed, step S208 follows. The displayposition of the PC (apparatus) is calculated, obtained, and displayed.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen display. For example, when the “+”mark displayed on the icon 403 k showing the PC in FIG. 4 is clickedwith the mouse, the icon 403 k is displayed in expanded form. When theperipherals connected to the icon 403 k of the PC are displayed inexpanded form, a display position of an icon 703 k of the PC in FIG. 6corresponding to the icon 403 k is moved to the left and the icon isdisplayed there.

The reasons will now be described. In the row of the icon 703 k, the PCsare sequentially arranged and displayed from the right direction for anetwork line. Three icons 703 l, 703 m, and 703 n of image scanners areconnected to the icon 703 k of the PC. Therefore, unless the displayposition of the icon 703 k, of the PC is moved to the left, the threeicons 703 l, 703 m, and 703 n of image scanners cannot be displayed. Asshown in FIG. 6, by moving the icon 703 k of the PC to the left anddisplaying there, the icons 703 l, 703 m, and 703 n of image scannersconnected to the icon 703 k can be displayed.

If the display row has to be changed (moved) in step S206 in FIG. 3A,step S207 follows.

In step S207, whether the peripherals connected to the PC (apparatus) towhich the change has been instructed can be displayed in one row or notis discriminated. If they can be displayed in one row, step S208 followsand the display position of each peripheral is calculated, obtained, anddisplayed.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen display. For example, when the “+”mark displayed on the icon 403 v showing the PC in FIG. 4 is clickedwith the mouse, the icon 403 v is displayed in expanded form. When theperipherals connected to the icon 403 v of the PC are displayed inexpanded form, a display row of an icon 603 v of the PC in FIG. 7corresponding to the icon 403 v is moved downward by one row and theicon is displayed.

The reasons will be described. Two icons 603 w and 603 x of printers areconnected to the icon 603 v of the PC. Unless the display position ofthe icon 603 v of the PC is moved, the icons 603 w and 603 x of printersconnected to the icon 603 v cannot be displayed. By pushing out the icon603 v of the PC to the lower row and displaying, the icons 603 w and 603x of printers connected to the icon 603 v can be displayed.

If the peripherals cannot be displayed in one row in step S207 in FIG.3A, step S210 follows. In step S210, display positions of the PCs(apparatuses) to which the change has been instructed are calculated,obtained, and displayed. Further, step S211 follows. In step S211,display positions are calculated, obtained, and displayed so that theperipherals connected to the PCs (apparatuses) to which the change hasbeen instructed are displayed in plural rows.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen display. For example, the “+” markdisplayed on the icon 403 e showing the PC in FIG. 4 is clicked with themouse, the icon 403 e is displayed in expanded form. When theperipherals connected to the icon 403 e of the PC are displayed inexpanded form, a display row of an icon 803 e of the PC in FIG. 8corresponding to the icon 403 e is moved downward. The peripheralsconnected to the icon 803 e are displayed in two rows.

The reasons will now be described. The peripherals connected to the icon803 e of the PC are eight peripherals of icons 803 f, 803 g, 803 h, 803i, 803 j, 803 k, and 803 l of printers and an icon 803 m of an imagescanner. A display space of a width of a display window on the screen ormore is necessary to display the icons of those eight peripherals, sothat all of them cannot be fully displayed in one row. In such a case,by displaying the peripherals in such a manner that the peripherals arefolded back and connected, the icons of those eight peripherals can bedisplayed in the display window of a predetermined width.

Since the display positions of the icons of the PCs to which the changewas instructed have been calculated and determined, whether it isnecessary to move the display positions regarding the other apparatuses(PCs and/or peripherals) or not is similarly discriminated in step S212.If it is necessary to move the display positions, step S213 follows andthe display positions of the other apparatuses are again calculated,obtained, and displayed. The processing routine is finished.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a reduced display process according to theembodiment. In this flowchart, a case where a reduced display has beeninstructed from the display state where the peripherals connected to thePCs were displayed in expanded form will be described.

First, steps S301 to S304 are similar to steps S201 to S204 in FIG. 3A.

Subsequently, in step S304, whether the display change has beeninstructed or not is discriminated. If the display change is notinstructed, the processing routine is finished. If there is the displaychange instruction, step S305 follows.

In step S305, whether the display positions of the PCs (apparatuses) towhich the change has been instructed have to be changed (moved) or notis discriminated. If it is necessary to change them, step S306 followsand the display positions of the PCs (apparatuses) to which the changehas been instructed are calculated, obtained, and displayed. Step S307follows. If there is no need to change them, no process is performed andnext step S307 follows.

In step S307, whether it is necessary to change the display positions ofthe other apparatuses (PCs and/or peripherals) due to the display changeof the PCs (apparatuses) to which the change has been instructed or notis discriminated. If it is necessary to change the display positions,step S308 follows. The display positions of the apparatuses other thanthe apparatuses to which the change has been instructed are calculated,obtained, and displayed. After that, the processing routine is finished.If there is no need to change the display positions, step S308 isbypassed and the processing routine is finished.

By executing the processes of the flowchart, for example, the followingdisplay change can be performed. For instance, by clicking a “−” markdisplayed on the icon 503 f of the PC shown in FIG. 5 by the mouse, theicon 403 f in FIG. 4 corresponding to the icon 503 f in FIG. 5 isdisplayed in reduced form as shown in FIG. 4. The “+” mark is displayedon the icon 403 f by the reduced display and the icons of theperipherals connected to the icon 403 f are erased.

Similarly, by clicking a “−” mark displayed on the icon 703 k of the PCshown in FIG. 6 by the mouse, the icon 403 k in FIG. 4 corresponding tothe icon 703 k in FIG. 6 is displayed in reduced form as shown in FIG.4.

Similarly, by clicking a “−” mark displayed on the icon 603 v of the PCshown in FIG. 7 by the mouse, the icon 403 v in FIG. 4 corresponding tothe icon 603 v in FIG. 7 is displayed in reduced form as shown in FIG.4.

Similarly, by clicking a “−” mark displayed on the icon 803 e of the PCshown in FIG. 8 by the mouse, the icon 403 e in FIG. 4 corresponding tothe icon 803 e in FIG. 8 is displayed in reduced form as shown in FIG.4.

As mentioned above, when the peripherals are connected to the PC, theicon of the PC can be displayed in reduced form or displayed in expandedform. In case of the reduced display, the “+” mark is displayed on theicon of the PC and the icons of the peripherals connected to the PC arenot displayed.

When the display change is instructed by clicking the “+” mark on theicon of the PC by the mouse, the icon can be displayed in expanded form.In case of the expanded display, the “−” mark is displayed on the iconof the PC and the icons of the peripherals connected to the PC aredisplayed in expanded form.

On the other hand, when the display change is instructed by clicking the“−” mark on the icon of the PC by the mouse, the icon can be displayedin reduced form.

Whether it is necessary to change the display position of the icon ofthe PC to which the change has been instructed in accordance with thenumber of peripherals connected to the PC to which the change has beeninstructed or not is discriminated at the time of the expanded display.By changing the display position of the icon, even if the number ofperipherals is large, the peripherals can be efficiently displayed atthe proper positions.

When the number of peripherals is small, there is no need to change thedisplay row of the icons of the PCs. However, when the number ofperipherals is large, by changing the display positions of the icons ofthe PCs, for example, downward by one row, a wide display space isassured and a number of peripherals can be displayed.

When the number of peripherals is small, the peripherals are arrangedand displayed in one row. When the number of peripherals is large, theperipherals are folded back and arranged and displayed in plural rows.By folding back and displaying the peripherals in the plural rows, anumber of peripherals can be displayed.

When the icons are displayed in expanded form, there is a case where thedisplay positions of the PCs and/or peripherals in the display row underthe present row have to be moved further downward by such an influence.In this case, the display positions of the PCs and/or peripherals arecalculated again and can be efficiently displayed at proper positions.

When the icons are displayed in expanded form, it is possible toconstruct the apparatus in a manner such that the icons of only theimage input apparatuses (image scanners) and image output apparatuses(printers) are displayed in expanded form and the other apparatuses (forexample, storing apparatuses and the like) are not displayed in expandedform or the icons of only the peripherals which have been shared and setfor the other terminals on the network are displayed in expanded form.

Further, it is also possible to construct the apparatus in a manner suchthat the user is allowed to designate an expanded display mode such asmode for expanding only the image scanners, mode for expanding only theprinters, or the like and the icons are displayed in expanded form onthe basis of the designated mode.

As the number of peripherals which are used for calculation of thedisplay positions in this case, the total number of peripherals whichmeet the conditions of the expanded display among the connectedperipherals is used.

Even when the number of peripherals connected to the PC is large, theicon of the PC can be efficiently displayed in expanded form ordisplayed in reduced form on the same picture plane. The connectingstates of the PCs and peripherals can be easily known.

A status of each apparatus can be easily known by obtaining the statusinformation of each apparatus connected to the network and displayingthe icon of each apparatus in accordance with the status information.

<Second Embodiment>

The second embodiment will now be described hereinbelow.

In the second embodiment, there is shown an example in which in responseto the operation for dragging a device icon to a PC icon on a device mapdisplay screen, the icons of the devices locally connected to the PCcorresponding to the PC icon are displayed in expanded form and thedisplay position of each icon on the device map is calculated again anddisplayed in accordance with the expanded display.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processes of the network apparatus 22according to the embodiment. A case where the network apparatus 22 isthe PC will be described as an example hereinbelow.

First, in step S1001, the connection information of all of the sharedPCs 22 and peripherals 23 on the communication network 21 and the statusinformation such as processing states or the like of those apparatusesare obtained. The information is stored in the PMEM 3 (FIG. 2).

Subsequently, in step S1002, the positions where the PCs and peripheralsare displayed on the display screen of the CRT 16 (FIG. 2) arecalculated on the basis of the obtained information.

In step S1003, all of the PCs and peripherals are displayed atpredetermined positions on the same picture plane of the CRT 16 on thebasis of the connection information and the status information.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a display screen. Reference numeral 1101denotes a menu; 1102 a tool bar; and 1103 a main window for displayingthe icons of the PCs and peripherals.

Icons 1102 a to 1102 g for allowing various functions to be executed aredisplayed on the tool bar 1102. Each function of the icons 1102 a to1102 g can be executed by operating the PC or peripheral.

For example, the icon 1102 a is an icon to execute the copying functionfor reading image data from the selected image scanner (image readingapparatus) and outputting the image data to the selected printer.

The icon 1102 b is an icon to execute the FAX function. The icon 1102 cis an icon to execute the reading function of the image data. The icon1102 d is an icon to execute the function for reading the image data andperforming the OCR process. The icon 1102 e is an icon to execute thefunction for managing FAX reception data and distribution data. The icon1102 f is an icon to execute the updating process of information. Theicon 1102 g is an icon to stop the updating process.

The status information will now be described. Icons 1103 a to 1103 agare icons showing PCs, peripherals, and domains which are shared on thenetwork. The icons 1103 a to 1103 ag are displayed as icons (displayforms) of device kinds in accordance with the device kinds such as PC,printer, image scanner, FAX modem, and the like. The icons 1103 a to1103 ag are changed in accordance with a processing state such as“during the processing”, “error generation”, or the like and displayed.

The icon 1103 a is an icon showing the self PC (apparatus). The icon1103 b is an icon showing the domain in which the self PC is in thelogon state. Since the self PC is a special apparatus, it is displayedso as to be distinguished from the other PCs.

Although the icon 1103 e is shared on the network, it is a peripheral inwhich no driver is installed, so that the icon 1103 e is displayed ingray. Since the peripheral in which the driver has been installed isdisplayed by an icon in a clear color, whether the driver has beeninstalled or not can be easily known. The above information is thestatus information.

Although the icons 1103 j, 1103 k, and the like denote the peripheralsconnected to the self PC (network apparatus), a “+” (plus) mark isdisplayed on the icons 1103 j, 1103 k, and the like in order to show thefact that the peripherals are not displayed in expanded form on thescreen. The icons 1103 j, 1103 k, and the like are displayed in reducedform.

As for the icons 1103 c, 1103 f, and the like, a “−” (minus) mark isdisplayed on the icons 1103 c, 1103 f, and the like in order to show thefact that the peripherals connected to the self PC (network apparatus)have been expanded on the screen. The icons 1103 c, 1103 f, and the likeare displayed in expanded form.

When the peripherals are connected to the self PC, the “+” mark or the“−” mark is displayed on the icon of the self PC. Either the reduceddisplay or the expanded display can be selected every PC.

As for the icons 1103 s, 1103 q, and the like, no mark is displayed onthe icons 1103 s, 1103 q, and the like in order to show the fact that noperipheral is connected to the self PC (apparatus).

As mentioned above, the connecting states and statuses of all of the PCsand peripherals on the network can be confirmed on the screen. In thisexample, although all icons are not displayed due to a restriction of asize of screen, all of the PCs and peripherals can be confirmed by usingthe scroll bar arranged on the side of the screen.

Subsequently, whether the dragging operation has been performed to theperipheral or network apparatus by using, for example, the mouse 13(FIG. 2) or not is discriminated in step S1004. The dragging operationis an operation which is executed when the operator moves a mousepointer with the mouse button depressed.

In the case where the dragging operation is not performed, theprocessing routine is finished. If the dragging operation is performed,step S1005 follows. In step S1005, whether the dropping operation hasbeen performed to the peripheral or network apparatus to which thedragging operation was being performed or not is discriminated. Thedropping operation is an operation which is executed when the operatorremoves the mouse button.

When the dropping operation is performed, step S1006 follows. In stepS1006, whether the dropping operation is an effective process or not isdiscriminated. If it is not effective, the processing routine isfinished. If it is effective, step S1007 follows.

In step S1007, the functions corresponding to the dragging operation andthe dropping operation are executed. For example, in FIG. 11, if theicon 1103 i of the image scanner is subjected to the dragging anddropping operations so as to be moved to the position of the icon 1103 dof the printer, the image data is read out from the image scanner shownby the icon 1103 i and outputted to the printer shown by the icon 1103d. That is, the copying function from the image scanner to the printeris executed. After that, the processing routine is finished.

If it is determined in step S1005 in FIG. 10 that the dropping operationis not performed after the dragging operation, step S1008 follows. Instep S1008, the present position of the mouse pointer of the mouse 13 isused as a reference and whether the display form of the icon at thepresent position is changed or not is discriminated. The display formis, for example, the expanded display or reduced display.

As a discriminating method, for example, in FIG. 11, as for the icon1103 f of the PC, the icons 1103 g, 1103 h, and 1103 i of theperipherals connected to the self PC are displayed in expanded form. Inthe case where the mouse pointer is located at the position of the icon1103 f, since the apparatus is in a state where the dragging operationcan be performed to the icons 1103 g, 1103 h, and 1103 i of all of theperipherals connected to the icon 1103 f of the PC, there is no need tochange the display form of the icon 1103 f.

As for the icon 1103 j of the PC or the like, although the peripheral isconnected to the self PC, the peripheral is not displayed in expandedform but displayed in reduced form. In such a case, the draggingoperation cannot be performed to such a peripheral. In this case, todisplay the icon 1103 j in expanded form, it is necessary to change thedisplay form from the reduced form to the expanded form. By displayingthe peripherals connected to the icon 1103 j of the PC in expanded form,the dragging operation can be performed to the peripherals connected tothe icon 1103 j of the PC.

If it is determined in step S1008 that there is no need to change thedisplay form, the processing routine is returned to step S1005. If it isdetermined that it is necessary to change the display form, theprocessing routine advances to step S1009.

In step S1009, the display positions of the PC (network apparatus) wherethe mouse pointer is located and the peripherals connected to such a PCare calculated and displayed. Step S1010 follows.

In step S1010, whether the display positions of the other PCs (networkapparatuses) and/or peripherals are corrected (changed) or not isdiscriminated. If it is unnecessary to correct, the processing routineis returned to step S1005.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a display screen. It shows a case where thedragging operation is performed to the icon 1103 i of the image scannershown in FIG. 11 and the mouse pointer of the mouse 13 is moved to theposition of the icon 1103 k of the PC. By moving the mouse pointer tosuch a position, the display form shown in FIG. 11 is changed to thedisplay form shown in FIG. 12. The icon of the image scanner isdisplayed on the icon 1203 k of the PC in FIG. 12 corresponding to theicon 1103 k in FIG. 11. The icon 1203 k corresponding to the icon 1103 kis displayed in expanded form. That is, the icon 1203 l of the printerconnected to the icon 1203 k of the PC is displayed in expanded form.

If it is determined in step S1010 in FIG. 10 that it is necessary tocorrect the display positions of the other PCs (network apparatuses)and/or the peripherals, step S1011 follows. In step S1011, the displaypositions of the other PCs and/or peripherals whose display positionsneed to be corrected are calculated again and displayed.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a display screen. The above processes willbe specifically explained with reference to FIG. 13. In a manner similarto that mentioned above, a case where the mouse pointer of the mouse 13is moved to the position of the icon 1103ae of the PC by dragging theicon 1103 i of the scanner shown in FIG. 11 will be explained. In thiscase, the display form in FIG. 11 is changed to that in FIG. 13.

That is, although the peripherals have been connected to the icon 1103ae of the PC shown in FIG. 11, the icon 1103 ae is displayed in reducedform. In FIG. 13, the icon 1303 ae of the PC corresponding to the icon1103 ae of the PC in FIG. 11 is displayed in expanded form. That is, theicon 1303 af of the FAX apparatus connected to the icon 1303 ae of thePC and the icon 1303 ag of the printer are displayed in expanded form.

In this instance, to display the icons 1303 af and 1303 ag of theperipherals connected to the icon 1303 ae of the PC, it is necessary tomove the icons 1103 ae, 1103 af, and 1103 ag shown in FIG. 11. That is,the icon 1303 ae in FIG. 13 corresponding to the icon 1103 ae in FIG. 11is moved to the left along the network line and displayed. Similarly,the icon 1303 ah in FIG. 13 corresponding to the icon 1103 af in FIG. 11is also moved to the left along the network line and displayed. Further,since the icon 1103 ag of the domain which was being displayed in FIG.11 is moved downward of the screen, it is not displayed on the displayscreen in FIG. 13. After the re-display as mentioned above wasperformed, the processing routine is returned to step S1005 in FIG. 10.

As mentioned above, a peripheral or PC (network apparatus) on the copysource side can be selected and designated by the dragging operation.When the mouse pointer is moved by the dragging operation, the PC(network apparatus) locating at the position indicated by the mousepointer is selected and designated. When the peripherals are connectedto the selected and designated PC and the PC is displayed in reducedform, it is determined that it is necessary to change the display formof the PC. In this case, the display form of the PC is changed from thereduced display to the expanded display. When the PC is displayed inexpanded form, the peripherals connected to the PC are displayed inexpanded form. Since the peripherals are automatically displayed, whenthe operator executes the dropping operation at the positions of theperipherals, he can select and designate a peripheral or PC on the copydestination side. The copying function from the copy source to the copydestination can be executed by the dragging operation and droppingoperation. For example, the image data read by the image scanner on thecopy source side can be printed (outputted) to the printer on the copydestination side.

As mentioned above, by automatically displaying the PC selected anddesignated by the mouse pointer in expanded form, the peripheralsconnected to the PC can be easily and efficiently selected anddesignated by the dropping operation.

When it is necessary to change the display form, the display positionsare calculated again and displayed. If it is necessary to change thedisplay positions of the PC and peripherals on the network other thanthe PC and peripherals in which the display form has been changed, thosedisplay positions are again calculated and displayed. Thus, theconnecting states of the PCs and peripherals on the network can beefficiently displayed.

<Third Embodiment>

The third embodiment will be described hereinbelow.

The above second embodiment has been described with respect to anexample in which by dragging the icon of the device on the device mapdisplay screen to the PC icon, all of the devices connected to the PCare displayed in expanded form.

In the third embodiment, only the peripherals which can operate in aninterlocking relational manner with the dragged device among the devicesconnected to the PC are displayed in expanded form.

For example, when the icon of the scanner is dragged, by displaying onlythe devices (printer, multifunction apparatus) having the printingfunction in expanded form, the display space on the device map displayscreen which is necessary for expanded display is minimized. Thus, sucha situation that the display of the device map is remarkably changed dueto the expanded display and the user cannot temporarily discriminate theconnecting state of the network apparatus can be prevented.

It is sufficient that a combination of interlocking states of thedevices is preliminarily registered by the user. As another combination,a printer whose resolution is preferably matched with that of thedragged scanner can be also displayed in expanded form. A printercorresponding to the original reading size of the dragged scanner can bealso displayed in expanded form.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the third embodiment of the invention.

First, in step S1401, the connection information of all of the sharedPCs and devices on the network and the using states and statusinformation of the devices are obtained. Those information is stored.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a data table in which the informationobtained in step S1401, namely, the information of each PC and thedevices locally connected to the PC on the network has been stored. Inthe example of FIG. 15, information 1503 regarding PCs (1501, 1502) onthe network and information 1503 to 1509 of the devices locallyconnected to the PC have been stored every PC.

The information of the devices locally connected to the PCs can beobtained by those information. For example, the number of devicesconnected to the PC can be discriminated. Further, among those devices,the number of devices having the printer function connected to the PC,the number of devices having the scanner function connected to the PC,and the number of devices having the FAX function connected to the PCcan be discriminated, respectively.

The positions where the PCs and the devices locally connected to the PCare displayed are calculated on the basis of the obtained information instep S1402. In step S1403, a device map display screen similar to thatin each of the first and second embodiments is displayed on the basis ofthose information.

Whether the dragging operation of the device icon has been instructed byusing the mouse pointer 13 or the like or not is discriminated in stepS1404. If it is not instructed, the processing routine is finished. Ifit is instructed, step S1405 follows.

In step S1405, whether the dropping operation of the dragged device iconhas been performed or not is discriminated. If the dropping operation isperformed, step S1406 follows.

In step S1406, whether the dropping operation is an effective process ornot is discriminated. If it is not effective, the processing routine isfinished. If it is effective, step S1407 follows and the correspondingfunction is executed.

The discrimination about the effective process in step S1406 is made onthe basis of a data table shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a data table in which combinations ofeffective functions among the functions possessed by the devices havebeen stored.

For example, reference numeral 1601 denotes the fact that the scannerfunction and the printer function are an effective combination and, inthe case where the scanner icon is dragged and dropped to the printericon, the copying function for reading out the image data from thescanner corresponding to the icon and outputting it to the printercorresponding to the icon is executed.

Reference numeral 1602 denotes the fact that the scanner function andthe FAX function are an effective combination and in the case where thescanner icon is dragged and dropped to the printer icon, the FAXfunction for reading out the image data from the scanner correspondingto the icon and outputting it to the printer corresponding to the iconis executed.

When the dropping operation is not performed in step S1405, step S1408follows. In step S1408, whether the icon designated from the mousepointer 13 by the dragging operation is the PC icon which is not yetdisplayed in expanded form and the device has been connected to the PCcorresponding to this icon or not is discriminated. If YES, step S1410follows.

In step S1409, whether the display form is changed or not is furtherdiscriminated. That is, whether the icon designated from the mousepointer 13 by the dragging operation is the PC icon which has alreadybeen displayed in expanded form and the device icon which has beendisplayed in expanded form should be changed on the basis of thecombination of the effective functions shown in FIG. 16 or not isdiscriminated. For example, if the scanner icon has been dragged to thePC icon, it is determined that only the device icons having theeffective functions for the scanner function among the device iconswhich have already been displayed in expanded form to such a PC iconshould be displayed in expanded form.

As a discriminating method, whether the device is a device which canexecute the effective functions for the dragged icon or not isdiscriminated on the basis of the data tables shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

In step S1410, the display positions of the PC and devices connectedthereto are calculated and displayed. In this instance, the displaypositions are calculated on the basis of the number of devices havingthe effective functions for the device functions of the dragged icon.

Step S1411 follows and whether the display positions of the other iconsare moved or not is discriminated. If there is no need to move, theprocessing routine is returned to step S1405. If it is necessary to movethe display positions of the other icons in step S1411, step S1412follows. The display positions of the icons other than the designatedicon are again calculated and displayed. After the display positionswere again displayed as mentioned above, the processing routine isreturned to step S1405.

Although the first to third embodiments have been described above, thenetwork apparatus which is connected to the network is not limited tothe PC but can be set to another computer such as a workstation or thelike or can be also set to a printer, a facsimile, or a multi functiondevice so long as it is an apparatus which can locally connect thedevices.

To realize the functions of the embodiments mentioned above, programcodes of software for realizing the functions of the embodiments aresupplied to each network apparatus and the apparatus can be madeoperative in accordance with a program stored in a computer (a CPU or anMPU) of the network apparatus.

In this case, the program codes themselves of the software realize thefunctions of the embodiments mentioned above. The program codesthemselves and means for supplying the program codes to the computer,for example, a recording medium in which the program codes have beenstored construct the invention. As a recording medium for storing theprogram codes, for example, it is possible to use a floppy disk, a harddisk, an optical disk, a magnetooptic disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, anon-volatile memory card, an ROM, or the like.

The program codes are incorporated to the embodiments of the inventionin not only the case where the functions of the embodiments mentionedabove are realized by executing the supplied program codes by a computerbut also the case where the program codes are executed in cooperationwith the OS (Operating System), another application software, or thelike which is operating in the computer and the functions of theembodiments mentioned above are realized.

Further, the invention also incorporates the case where the suppliedprogram codes are stored in a memory equipped for a function expandingboard of a computer or a function expanding unit connected to thecomputer and, thereafter, a CPU or the like equipped for the functionexpanding board or function expanding unit executes a part or all of theactual processes on the basis of instructions of the program codes, andthe functions of the embodiments mentioned above are realized by thoseprocesses.

The above embodiments have been merely shown as examples of embodyingthe invention and the technical scope of the invention should not belimitedly interpreted by them. That is, many modifications andvariations of the invention are possible without departing from thespirit of the invention or the main features thereof.

1. An information processing apparatus which can communicate through anetwork with each of a plurality of information processing apparatusesconnected to said network, comprising: display means for displaying anicon indicative of each of said plurality of information processingapparatuses onto a virtual system display screen; said virtual systemdisplay screen graphically displaying connecting states of saidplurality of information processing apparatuses and peripherals locallyconnected to each of said information processing apparatuses; obtainingmeans for obtaining information of the peripherals locally connected tosaid information processing apparatus from each of said plurality ofinformation processing apparatuses; first control means for displayingicons indicative of the peripherals locally connected to saidinformation processing apparatus corresponding to the icon as a targetof a user action in response to said user action for the icon of theinformation processing apparatus on said virtual system display screenon the basis of the information obtained by said obtaining means; andsecond control means for calculating display positions of the iconswhich have already been displayed on said virtual system display screenon the basis of a display space of the icon of the peripheral which isnewly displayed on said virtual system display screen by said firstcontrol means. 2-21. (canceled).